While Beloit College offers a comprehensive program of both merit and need-based awards to assist families in meeting educational expenses, students may wish to explore the many grant and scholarship opportunities available from outside sources.
Researching and securing outside funding is the responsibilty of the student; however the task can be frustrating and daunting. Parents' employers are often a good place to begin looking for outside funding, since many companies offer grants or scholarships to the dependents of their employees.
We cannot recommend any organizations that charge a fee to the family for locating scholarship opportunities. Some search services that charge a fee may be reputable; however, many are not. We feel that students are better served, and more successful, when conducting the research themselves.
When students are awarded outside scholarships, it is important that they inform the Financial Aid Office of the source, the amount, and the terms of the award. Receipt of an outside scholarship represents new financial information which can impact a student's aid award. A financial aid officer must review this new information in order to be sure that the student's aid award remains in compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies. Often a financial aid package will need to be adjusted when a student receives an outside scholarship. Typically an outside scholarship will reduce the student's self-help financial aid (i.e. - need-based loans and/or work study).
The following online resources may prove helpful in your search for outside scholarships.
FastWeb -- A comprehensive resource for scholarship research with a database of 1.3 million scholarships, detailed college profiles, and information on jobs and internships
ScholarshipCoach.com -- an informative scholarship search site which offers advice on how to locate, and win, scholarships -- from a person who's done it himself
SuperCollege.com -- Provides access to a searchable database of scholarships, as well as links to other financial aid and planning information